"Good morning, class!" greeted John. "Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts for First Years. I'll be your teacher, Professor Watson. Right now, basic rules..."

A student raised their hand. The professor was prepared to deal either with the smartass, the idiot, or the overly enthusiastic one. "Yes. Miss..."

"Georgina. Georgina Craig."

"Alright, Georgina. What is your question?"

"I seem to be in the wrong class." She waved her schedule in the air. "It says room 122, but it says I have Potions with Mr. Holmes."

"Ah that would be room 221," replied Watson. "Turn right outside the door, down the hall, down the stairs, to the left. Anyone else in the wrong classroom?"

Five more students stood up and followed Georgina out of the room. John rolled his eyes. "Now that that's settled; let's go over some rules. I shouldn't see you touching your wands unless we are practicing. Raise your hand to speak. No fighting. Remember that and we should all get along nicely. And you all know how house points work."

He gave them a beat to take in the information. "Okay. Now open your books to page 3. Today we'll be learning the most basic and important spell to know against a foe: expelliarmus."

The eager little first years took out their books and readied their quills. "Now, the most important thing to know about expelliarmus," continued John, "is that even though it seems only a simple disarming spell, it's more than that. This spell has brought down many dark lords and is not to be meaninglessly tossed around." Some of the kids were completely zoned out, others jotting notes, and others were staring at their professor, hanging on to his every word in fascination. Muggleborns. thought John.

He had to admit that might be his favorite thing about teaching magic may be the muggleborns, or at least the muggle-raised. Pure-bloods and the majority of half-bloods were raised around magic their entire lives. This was dull to them. The ones who came from the muggle world were absolutely captivated by it. Their eyes lit up with wonder whenever they learned something new. That simple little bit of awe made John proud to be an educator.

"A number of factors should be taken into account when practicing the spell; the first being strength. Not the strength of the wizard, but the strength you want it to be. You're not going to put as much force behind knocking a wand out of someone's hand as you would be throwing them across the room." John noticed a boy in the back with his hand up. "Yes, um-" John waved his hand, prompting for the child to say his name.

"Micheal. Or Mickey if you prefer, sir."

"Mickey, alright. Your question?"

"Shouldn't we first learn about the Dark Arts before we act against them?"

There's the smart ass. "It's not just Against the Dark Arts is Defense Against the Dark Arts. I'm merely teaching you first the most important self-defense spell there is."

"You just said it could throw someone across the room. That seems more offensive than defensive."

John rolled his eyes. "Okay. Stand up, Mickey."

Warily Mickey stood up and walked out from behind his table. "Right. Pick up your wand." He did. "Now come at me!" said John.

The poor kid stood frozen to the spot. John had to coax him. "Come on! Free jab at the teacher! You might not get another opportunity!"

Mickey started walking towards the professor and then began running, wielding his wand more like a club than a tool.

"Expelliarmus!" shouted John. A blast of red light shot from his wand and knocked Mickey's right out his hand, careful not to hit the student.

"Hey, no fair!"

"I was defending myself. Now sit down."

The student picked up his wand and went and sat down in a huff. "Now that was a small casting. A big casting would be something like this." John pointed his wand at a chest he'd conveniently placed in the class room. "Expelliarmus!"

The chest flew across the room and hit the wall. "Okay everyone, pick up your wands- careful Mickey- you'll take someone's eye out! We're going outside in the courtyard, where I have targets set up for you to practice. Come now everyone, let's go."

"Alright class!" said Sherlock. "Right away I'd like to establish that this will not be your easiest class. I expect nothing but the most attention and nothing but the best results-"

Just then six students walked in the door. "Is this Mr. Holmes's class?"

"I suspect you came from Defense Against the Dark Arts. Bloody scheduling mistakes. Take your seats now. As I was saying before, I expect attention and results. Lateness from this point onward will have definite consequences, unless you have an actual meaningful excuse, which I doubt you will. Don't you dare try to pull anything either; I guarantee you will be caught. House points will be rewarded for participation and high marks. They'll be deducted for interruptions and other annoyances. Low grades will not take away house points, merely earn my disappointment and mandatory tutoring sessions. Understood?"

There was a chorus of mumbled "Yes, Mr. Holmes."

"I am your teacher, not your best friend. Now, can anyone tell me the first thing any proper chemi-" he caught himself. "potions maker needs first, before he or she or they can even begin properly brewing a potion?

One of the girls who came in late raised her hand. Her hair was died brunette and she looked much more eager than most students. "You." Sherlock pointed. " Miss..."

"Georgina Craig," she announced proudly.

"Yes, Miss Craig. Now answer the question."

"You'd need to have all the proper materials and ingredients gathered."

"You're on the right track, but there's something else."

Archie, who was sitting in the back, tentatively raised his hand. Sherlock smiled. "Yes."

"You need a state of mental readiness."

Sherlock clapped his hands. "There we are! I hope you wrote that down. The first thing you need before brewing a potion..." He turned around and excitedly wrote at the top of the chalkboard. "is mental. readiness." He underlined each word.

"How are we mentally ready, Mr. Holmes?" asked another girl in the class.

"I was getting to that- um-"

"Haley."

"Haley. Yes right. Don't expect me to remember your names. Maybe I'll make name tags for your desks... Anyway let's go around the room. Ways that we can reach a state of mental readiness! Go!"

"Know the recipe?" suggested one boy.

"Yes!" Sherlock beamed and made a circle motion with his hand. "Keep going."

"Be calm!" shouted another.

"Yes!"

"Be careful!"

"Have an objective?"

"Be confident!"

"Yes! Yes! And yes!" exclaimed Sherlock, absolutely elated. "By far you are the most competent bunch of students I've ever had. Congratulations. The rest of the semester should go smoothly." Hopefully. he added mentally.